Scott Slapin
Encyclopedia
Scott Slapin's compositions have been performed by violists across the United States and Europe and at the Primrose, Tertis and ARD Competitions. His viola
playing has been praised by string virtuosi from Ruggiero Ricci
to Gary Karr
, and his recordings have received critical acclaim in the American Record Guide
, Strad
, Musical Opinion
, Mundo Clásico and Fanfare
.
His Recitative for Solo Viola was commissioned for the 2008 Primrose International Viola Competition
and is a required piece for the 2012 Aspen Contemporary Ensemble at the Aspen Music Festival. He is the first person to have recorded all of Bach's Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin on viola, a cycle which he has recorded twice. He has premiered and recorded works for viola by Gerald Busby, Richard Lane
, Patrick Neher, Boris Pigovat
, Frank Proto
and David Rimelis. He was on the committee for the inaugural Maurice Gardner Composition Competition, and he co-premiered the winning work, Rachel Matthews' Dreams, at the 38th International Viola Congress.
Slapin was born in 1974 into a family of musicians. At eighteen, he was one of the youngest graduates of the Manhattan School of Music
, where he studied with viola virtuoso Emanuel Vardi
(1917-2011). In memory of Vardi, the American Viola Society
commissioned him to write Capricious, a viola trio which references several of Paganini's Caprices. Capricious was premiered at the New York Viola Society. His popular Nocturne is dedicated to his composition teacher and mentor Richard Lane
(1933-2004) and was premiered in its string quartet version by members of the United States Army Band
("Pershing's Own").
Slapin made his debut as the solo violist in the 1992-1993 New York City production of Gerald Busby's Orpheus In Love, a chamber opera about a viola player, and he premiered Busby's Muse for Solo Viola in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall
, NYC. He was a fellow at the Montalvo Arts Center in California, and he played in symphony orchestras from Cincinnati to São Paulo. He was featured in the Spring 2010 edition of the Journal of the American Viola Society
and can be heard playing Paganini's 24th Caprice on the soundtrack of the Bolivian film Sirwiñakuy. His music is published by Ourtext in London, Liben
in Cincinnati and the American Viola Society
, and his recordings are available on the Eroica Classical Recordings
and Red Mark labels. Many of his violacentric chamber works can be heard on the Eroica CD Reflection, played by members of the Slapin family.
As duo recitalists, Slapin and his wife, violist Tanya Solomon, won Best Chamber Music Performance of 2008 at the Big Easy Entertainment Awards in New Orleans.
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
playing has been praised by string virtuosi from Ruggiero Ricci
Ruggiero Ricci
Ruggiero Ricci is an Italian-American violinist known for performances and recordings of the works of Paganini. He was born in San Bruno, California. Ricci's brother was cellist and his sister Emma played violin with the New York Metropolitan Opera.He is the son of Italian immigrants. His...
to Gary Karr
Gary Karr
Gary Karr b. November 20, 1941 in Los Angeles, California, is an American classical double bass virtuoso and teacher.- Biography :Although he comes from seven generations of bassists, he was not encouraged by them to go into music...
, and his recordings have received critical acclaim in the American Record Guide
American Record Guide
The American Record Guide is a classical music magazine. It has reviewed classical music recordings since 1935.Since 1992, with the incorporation of the Musical America editorial functions into ARG, it started covering concerts, musicians, ensembles and orchestras in the US.The magazine prides...
, Strad
Strad
Strad may refer to:* Stradivarius, a stringed instrument* Steradian, the measurement of solid angles* The Strad, a classical music magazine...
, Musical Opinion
Musical Opinion
Musical Opinion, often abbreviated to MO, is a European classical music journal edited and produced in the UK. It is currently among the oldest such journals to be still publishing in the UK, having been continuously in publication since 1877....
, Mundo Clásico and Fanfare
Fanfare
A Fanfare is a relatively short piece of music that is typically played by trumpets and other brass instruments often accompanied by percussion...
.
His Recitative for Solo Viola was commissioned for the 2008 Primrose International Viola Competition
Primrose International Viola Competition
The Primrose International Viola Competition , also referred to as the Primrose Memorial Scholarship Competition , is an international music competition for viola players sponsored by the American Viola Society and named for the 20th century virtuoso William Primrose.The 13th Primrose International...
and is a required piece for the 2012 Aspen Contemporary Ensemble at the Aspen Music Festival. He is the first person to have recorded all of Bach's Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin on viola, a cycle which he has recorded twice. He has premiered and recorded works for viola by Gerald Busby, Richard Lane
Richard Lane
Richard Lane is the name of:* Richard Lane ; 17th century barrister and Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England* Richard Lane , 19th century English architect...
, Patrick Neher, Boris Pigovat
Boris Pigovat
is Israeli composer. Many of his works have been performed throughout the world. He has studied at in Moscow. Between 1978 and 1990 he lived in Tadjikistan, and in 1990 immigrated to Israel. In 2002 he received his Ph.D...
, Frank Proto
Frank Proto
Frank Proto American composer and bassist. Proto was born on July 18, 1941, Brooklyn, New York. Double Bass student of Fred Zimmermann and David Walter. Graduate of the Manhattan School of Music 1966 Master of Music. Self-taught composer...
and David Rimelis. He was on the committee for the inaugural Maurice Gardner Composition Competition, and he co-premiered the winning work, Rachel Matthews' Dreams, at the 38th International Viola Congress.
Slapin was born in 1974 into a family of musicians. At eighteen, he was one of the youngest graduates of the Manhattan School of Music
Manhattan School of Music
The Manhattan School of Music is a major music conservatory located on the Upper West Side of New York City. The school offers degrees on the bachelors, masters, and doctoral levels in the areas of classical and jazz performance and composition...
, where he studied with viola virtuoso Emanuel Vardi
Emanuel Vardi
Emanuel Vardi an Israeli-American violist, was considered to have been one of the great viola players of the 20th century.- Early life :...
(1917-2011). In memory of Vardi, the American Viola Society
American Viola Society
The American Viola Society is an organization headquartered in Dallas, Texas that promotes interest in the viola by its performers, teachers, luthiers, and enthusiasts....
commissioned him to write Capricious, a viola trio which references several of Paganini's Caprices. Capricious was premiered at the New York Viola Society. His popular Nocturne is dedicated to his composition teacher and mentor Richard Lane
Richard Lane
Richard Lane is the name of:* Richard Lane ; 17th century barrister and Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England* Richard Lane , 19th century English architect...
(1933-2004) and was premiered in its string quartet version by members of the United States Army Band
United States Army Band
Founded in 1922, the United States Army Band – known as "Pershing's Own" – is the premier musical organization of the United States Army. Before 2002, the United States Army Band was the only Washington-based military band to have participated in a theater of foreign combat operations...
("Pershing's Own").
Slapin made his debut as the solo violist in the 1992-1993 New York City production of Gerald Busby's Orpheus In Love, a chamber opera about a viola player, and he premiered Busby's Muse for Solo Viola in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
, NYC. He was a fellow at the Montalvo Arts Center in California, and he played in symphony orchestras from Cincinnati to São Paulo. He was featured in the Spring 2010 edition of the Journal of the American Viola Society
American Viola Society
The American Viola Society is an organization headquartered in Dallas, Texas that promotes interest in the viola by its performers, teachers, luthiers, and enthusiasts....
and can be heard playing Paganini's 24th Caprice on the soundtrack of the Bolivian film Sirwiñakuy. His music is published by Ourtext in London, Liben
Liben
Libeň is a Cadastral area and district of Prague. It was connected to Prague in 1901.- People :* Herz Homberg, born here* Ernestine Schumann-Heink, born here* Bohumil Hrabal, lived here...
in Cincinnati and the American Viola Society
American Viola Society
The American Viola Society is an organization headquartered in Dallas, Texas that promotes interest in the viola by its performers, teachers, luthiers, and enthusiasts....
, and his recordings are available on the Eroica Classical Recordings
Eroica Classical Recordings
Eroica Classical Recordings is a leading classical record label, based in Carpinteria, California in the United States. It is internationally recognized for its Bartók recordings, and discoverer of new talents...
and Red Mark labels. Many of his violacentric chamber works can be heard on the Eroica CD Reflection, played by members of the Slapin family.
As duo recitalists, Slapin and his wife, violist Tanya Solomon, won Best Chamber Music Performance of 2008 at the Big Easy Entertainment Awards in New Orleans.